Separable fastener



Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,392

G. E. PRENTICE ET AL SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed March 5. 1926 59.61 I -Zzzuevvtuns:

GeO 'QGEPWenfiZ/ae Pofier 6314 291! 2* Z a". z 26 yw Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED s'm'nszs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PRENTICE, OF BERLIN, AND ROBERT C. LEGAT, OI' NEW, BRITAIN, CON- NECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO G. E. PRENTICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BEPARAIBlLE FASTENER.

Application flied March 8, 1926. Serial No. 81,982.

This invention pertains to separable fastenors of thatgeneral class of which the patcut to Judson, 504,038, August 29, 1893. discloses an early example. Fasteners of the type referred to are commonly employed for the closure of gaps or seams in flexi le material, their application to shoe and overshoc flaps. pouches, bags of various kinds, garmentlackets, and tent-flaps being cited as speci c and well known examples. Such fasteners comprise in general opposed series of spaced fastener elements projecting from the opposite edges of the gap or opening to be closed, the fasteners of one series being staggered relatively to those of the other series and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from those of the other series only when they are disposed. atan angle to the line of strain. Usually such fasteners also comprise an actuating slider having means for accurately disposing the fastener elements at the roper angle relative to the line of strain to acilitate engagement or disengagement of the opposed elements.

11 one common embodiment of this general type of fastener. of which an instance is disclosed in. the British patent to Kuhn- Moos, No. 14,358, dated June 19, 1912, the

fastener elements of eachseries are entirely independent of each other. The elements of both series are of substantially like construction and each element is provided at its innor end with tongues adapted to be bent so as to embrace a bead or thickening member at the edge of the fabric ta e or stringer, while the outer ends of the fistener' elements of one series are furnished with projecting lugs or pins designed to engage correspondin sockets in the outer ,ends the elements 0 the opposed series.

The principal object of the present invention is in general to provide an improve fastener of the above type and more particularly to provide fastener elements of improved shape and functional utility.

In the accompanyin drawin one referred embodiment of t e invention is il ustrated by way of example;

Fig. 1 being a front elevation to large scale, partly broken away, shoyvin the complete astener including a pair 0 tapes or stringers to which the several fastener elements are connected;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the fastener elements prior to application to the tape or stringer;

Fig. 2" is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the shape of the fastener element after application to the edge of the stringer, the latter being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the fastener element shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a clasp or anchor device for uniting the tapes or strin rs at one end, the clasp being shown in its original shape prior to application to the tapes;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a stop member adapted to be secured to the opposite end of the tape or stringer to limit movement of the slider such stop element bein shown as it appears before application'to t e tape;

Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of the stop element after it has been bent'in applying it to the tape;

Figd 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1; an

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a, slider of a preferred type.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 designate tapes or stringers to which the opposed series of fastener elements are respectively connected. While it is usual to furnish fasteners of this kind to the trade in the form of a complete structure comprisin tapes or strin rs such as 1 and 2 upon whic the series of astener elements are mounted, it is to be understood that so far as its broader aspects are concerned the present invention is. not necessaril .limitedjo the inclusion of these ta c mem ers since it is cond ceivablc that the astener elements might be applied directly to the edges of the material in which the ga occurs, and when in the appended claims t e term stringer or to is employed it is to be understood as b y comprehending any flexible element forming in etfect one edge of the gap to be closed.

However, as just cited, it is usual for convcnience to mount the fastener elements upon narrow fabric strips or tapes, commonly known to the trade as strin ers, and to secure these tapes or stringers y sewin or otherwise to the material at the edges of the gap to be closed.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the o posed edges of the stringers 1 and 2 are thiclrened or beaded as indicated at 3. This may be accomplished as here shown b weaving in a thick warp thread at the e ge of the materiainto form an integral thickened selvage, or by providing a folded hem at the edge or in any other suitable manner. lVhile such thickened or beaded edge is desirable, since it provides a secure anchorage for the fastener elements, it is conceivable that it may be dispensed with without sacrificing the utility of the device as a whole.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, the individual fastener elements which are all of substantially identical construction and which are dexignated by the numeral 4 are conveniently made by stamp ing or punching from sheet material of suitable thickness and are preferably of symmetrical trapezoidal contour as initially formed, having a narrow front edge 5 substantially parallel to a wider rear edge, and having the side surfaces 7 and 8 convergin towar the end 5. The wider or rear enr of the element as thus initially formed is provided with a central recess 9 preferably substantially of U-shape having parallel side walls and a curved inner end. This recess divides the wider or rear end of the element into spaced wings 10 and 11 which are of maximum width adjacent to their free ends 6 and 6 respectively.

The narrower or front end of each fastener element is provided upon one face (here shown as the up er face) with a pro- ]ecting pin 12 of cy indrical form preferably having a flat beveled end surface 13 which slopes toward the narrow or forward end so that it is higher at the point 15 than at the point 14. The opposite (or lower face) 0 each fastener element is provided with a socket 16 of substantial depth and having cylindrical walls 17, such socket being axially aligned with the pin 12 and of a diameter slightly larger than that of the pin. a

In applying the fastener elements thus initially formed to the edge of the stringer, pressure is applied to the outer edges of the wings l0 and 11, thus bending the latter inwardly, the bending taking place at about the point 10 (Fig. 4) where the wing joins the body of the element and where the wing is narrowest. The bending of the wings in this manner causes the recess to assume "ubstantially the roughl triangular form shown in Fig. 2, having t e wide curved end 20 merging into substantially straight side wall 1 21 and 22 which converge toward the constricted opening 23. This bending of the wings decreases the width of the rear portion of the fastener element, the lateral edges of this rear portion now being substantially paralleh'so that the maximum width of the element is no greater than that of fastener elements of usual construction although the rear part has sufficient material at opposite sides of the gap to make it very resistant to deformation. The bending also cause= the rear edges 6 and 6" to converge inwardly toward the opening 23 so that the rear edge of the fastener element as a whole assumes a shallow V-shape with the outer acute corner: 18 and 19 of the wings projecting rearwardly beyond the opening 23. These corners form contact surfaces or shoes" adapted to engage corresponding guide elements of the slider. and as these angular shoes afford subxtantially a line contact with the guide elements and are spaced laterally substantially the maximum width of the slider, friction is reduced and the slider moves smoothly, easily and without tendency to twist.

As shown in Fig. 4, this bending of the wings after the thickened edge of the material has been disposed in the recess 9 causes the wings to bite firmly into the material. constricting and compressing the latter into triangular form so that. the wings obtain a very secure grip uponthe material. Moreover, although the lateral edges of the element at its rear portion are substantially parallel, so that it readily enters lrtwecn the wings of a slider of practical front to rear thickness, the nmtcrinl at oppo ite edgc= of the recess increucs in lateral thickness from the inner end of the recess rearwardly.

thus furnishing an unusually still construc tion to resist bending. Thus there is little danger that the fastener elements may be deformed rutliciently to permit them to lie pulled off from tl.c edge of the tape under ordinary conditions of use.

In order to connect the stringers or tape at one end of the gap we provide a clamping member 24 preferably stamped from sheet material and consisting of a substantiall rec tangular body portion provided with prongs 25 at its opposite. ends. The end portion of this clamp are bent to embrace the beaded edges of the tapes and the prongs are passed through the tapes and turned over to anchor the clamping member permanently to the tapes.

At the opposite end of the gap the tapes are provided with individual stops, preferably such as shown in Figs. 6 to 8. Each stop consists of a rectangular strip 26 of sheet material provided with a pair of spaced outstanding hoses 27 and 28 and with attaching prongs 29 at its ends. This stop strip is bent as shown for example in Fig. 8 to embrace the headed edge of the tape, with one of the bosses 27 and 28 di= posed at either side of the tape, and the prongs 29 are passed through the tape to the rear of the bead and-bent over to secure the stop member in position.

lVhile any suitable form of slider may be employed, we prefer to use a slider such as shown herein. This slider may be made in any suitable manner and comprises spaced front and rear walls 30 and 31 respectively provided at their lateral cdgesnvith oppose-d anges 33 and 34 constituting guides for engagement with the corners 18 and 19 respectively of the several fastener elements. The

opposed faces of the front and rear walls 0 the slider are so shaped as to form converging guide channels 35 and 36 of which the aforesaid flanges 33 and 34 constitute the outer walls, Preferably a strengthening rib 32 is provided for reinforcing the front and rear walls of the slider and to prevent them from spreading.

For actuating the slider we prefer to attach a finger pull by means of a rivet or pivot pin 37 at a suitable point on the rib 32. This finger pull com rises the handle portlon 88 and astiop portion .39. Normally the handle occupies the full line position in Fig. 9, but when it is to be used the operator grasps the handle portion 38 and swings it up into the dotted line position of Fig. 9 until its stop portion 39 engages the end of the slider. The finger pull new acts as a rigid handle, thus greatly facilitating movement of the slider along the row of fastener elements, but when not 'in' use it 7 may be folded down as shown in Fig. 9 so that it'does not unduly increase the thickness of the slider.

As above pointed out. the attaching means, consisting of the wings 1.0 and 11 at the rear end of each fastener element, is of such character that the fastener element is firml and securely attached to the edge of the abric, so that the uniform spacing of the fastener elements is indefinitely maintained.

When the slider is manipulated to bring the elements of the opposed seri s into engagement, the low corner 14 of the pin of each fastener element first enters the socket of the next element of the opposite series and then as the opposed elements are brought into parallel relation the longer or rear wall 15 of the pin comes into engagement with the cylindrical inner surface of the socket of the opposed member and thus forms a positive lock to prevent separation of the fastener elements when sub ected to a strain acting perpendicularto the edges of the fabric. the. cylindrical engaging surfaces being much more efl'ective for posi tively resisting separation than the hemi spherical surfaces heretofore employed.

As thus devised, the fastener elements are readily engaged and disengaged by the slider without interference and by the application of a minimum force, but when interengaged, the elements are so positively inter ocked that there is no danger of their slippage and accidental disengagement.

We claim:

1. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of fastener elements carried by each stringer. the elements of each series being spaced apart and rigidly secured to the corresponding stringer, the free ends of the elements of the opposed series being adapted to overlap, certain of said elements havin cylindrical sockets, and others havin cylindrical pins adapted to be engaged wit said sock- .ets, whereby separating stress a plied in a direction perpendicular to the e ges of the stringers is devoid of any component tending to withdraw a pin endwlse from its socket.

2. A fastener of the classdescribed comprising a pair of flexible stringers and a series of spaced fastener elements carried by each stringer, each element being rigidly secured to the edge of ita corresponding stringer, the elements of the opposed series being in staggered relation and projecting from the edges of their respective stringers, all of said elements being of substantially like construction, each element having a eylindrical socket in one side of its prqecting free end and a cylindrical pin projecting from the opposite side of said end, said pin being adapted to engage the socket o a fastener element of the other series.

3. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of fastener elements mounted on each stringer, each element of each series being rigidly attached at one end to its respective stringer, the free ends of said elements being adapted to overlap, each element of one series having a socket provided with a wall dis osed parallel to the edge of the stringer, an a pin projecting from each fastener element of the other series, said pins being adapted to enter the sockets in the elements 'of the first series, each pin having a surface parallel to the edge of the stringer adapted to engage the aforesaid wall 0 the corresponding socket whereby positively to resist separation of said elements.

4. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of fastener elements carried by each stringer, each element being rigidly attached at one end of one of the stringers, the fre ends of the elements of the opposed series being adapted to overlap, elements of one series each having a cylindrical socket whose axis is substantially parallel to the edge of the rstringer, and elements of the opposed series each having a cylindrical pin adapted to seat in said socket, the free extremity of said pin being shaped to facilitate its entrance into its socket.

5. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of spaced fastener elements carried by each stringer, each of said elements being fixedly attached at one end to its stringer, .the free ends of the elements of one series being adapted to enter between the free ends of the elements of the other series, each element of each series having a cylindricalsocket in one face and a cylindrical pin projecting from its opposite face, the free end of each pin being substantially flat.

6. A fastener of the class described comprising a flexible stringer, a fastener element having attaching means at one end securing it to the stringer and a projecting pin adjacent-to its opposite end. the axis of the pin being substantially parallel to the edge of the stringer, the free end of the pin being substantially flat and inclining away from the attaching end of the element.

7. A fastener of the class described co|n prisin a flexible stringer, a fastener element secured at one end to the edge. of the stringer, and a pin projecting from the free end portion of the fastener element, the axis of the pin normally being substantial] parallel to the edge of the stringer, that si e of the pin remote from the stringer being shorter than its opposite side.

8. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of stringers each carrying a series of spaced fastener elements, an element of one series cooperating with an element of the opposed series to form an interlocking pair, each element of each series bein provided at one end with means for rigi ly ats taching it to the ed e of its stringer, the

other or free ends of t c elements of such an interlocking pair normally overlapping, the

free end of one element of such pair being provided with a socket, and a pin projectin from the free end of the'other element said pair, said pin normally fitting within the socket of the other element, the opposed surfaces of the engaging pin and socket being so shaped that separating stress applied in a direction perpendicular to the edges of the stringers is devoid of any component tending to withdraw the pin endwise from its socket.

9. A fastener of the class described, comprising opposed series of spaced fastener elements, the elements of the respective series being rigidly attached to flexible stringers, certain of said elements having sockets each provided with a substantially straight wall and other of said elements having pins engageable with said sockets, that surface of each pin adjacent to the edge of the stringer being substantially straight and parallel to i said edge,

10. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of spaced fastener elements carried by each stringer, each element being fixedly attached at one of its ends to its stringer, the free ends of said elements projecting from the ed es of their respective stringers and being adapted to enter between elements of the opposed series, certain at least of the fastener elements havin cylindrical sockets whose axes are paralle to the edge of the stringer, and corresponding elements of the opposed surface having projecting pins enga cable .with said sockets, the pins being of Sn stantially uniform thickness from end to end and having substantially flat extremities.

Signed by us at erlin, Connecticut, this twenty-seventh da of February, 1926.

GEO GE E. PRENTICE. ROBERT C. LEGAT.

in being shaped to facilitate its entrance into its socket.

5. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of spaced fastener elements carried by each stringer, each of said elements being fixedly attached at one end to its stringer, the free ends of the elements of one series being adapted to enter between the free ends of the elements of the other series. each element of each series having a cylindrical socket in one face and a cylindrical pin projecting from its opposite face, the free end of each pin being substantially flat.

6. A fastener of the class described comprising a flexible stringer, a fastener element having attaching means at one end securing it to the stringer and a projecting pin adjacent to its opposite end. the axis of the pin being substantially parallel to the edge of the stringer, the free end of the pin being substantially fiat and inclining away from I the attaching end of the element.

7. A fastener of the class described comprisin a flexible stringer, a fastener element secure at one end to the edge of the stringer, and a pin projecting from the free end portion of the fastener element, the axis of the pin normally being substantiall parallel to the edge of the stringer, that si e of the pin remote from the stringer being shorter than its opposite side.

8. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of stringers each carrying a series of spaced fastener elements, an element of one series cooperating with an element of the opposed series to form an interlocking pair, each element of each series bein provided at one end with means for rigi ly attaching it to the edge of its stringer, the other or free ends of the elements of such an interlocking pair normally overlapping, the

free end of one element of such pair being provided with a socket, and a pin projectin from the free end of the'other element of said pair, said pin normally fitting within the socket of the other element, the opposed surfaces of the engaging pin and socket being so shaped that separating stress applied in a direction perpendicular to the edges of the stringers 1s devoid of any component tending to withdraw the pin endwise from its socket.

9. A fastener of the class described, comprising opposed series of spaced fastener elements, the elements of the respective series being rigidly attached to flexible stringers, certain of said elements having sockets each provided with a substantially straight wall and other of said elements having pins en ga cable with said sockets, that surface of eac pin adjacent to the edge of the stringer being substantially straight and parallel to said edge,

10. A fastener of the class described comprising a pair of flexible stringers, a series of spaced fastener elements carried by each stringer, each element being fixedly attached at one of its ends to its stringer, the free ends of said elements rejecting from the edges of their respective stringers and being adapted to enter between elements of the op posed series, certain at least of the fastener elements havin cylindrical sockets whose axes are paralle to the edge of the stringer, and corresponding elements of the opposed surface having projecting pins enga cable .with said sockets, the pins being of so stantially uniform thickness from end to end and having substantially flat extremities.

Signed by us at Berlin, Connecticut, this twenty-seventh da of February, 1926.

GEO GE E. PRENTIOE. ROBERT C. LEGAT.

- DISCLAIMER 1,658,392.-'-George E. Prentice, Berlin, and Robert 0. Legat, New Britain, Conn.

SEPARABLE ,FABTENER.

Patent dated February7, 1928. Disclaimer filed Februai y 6, 1932, by the assignee, G. E. Prentice Manufacturing Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to the subject matter of claims 3., 8, and 9 of the aboveidentfi ed patent exce t (1) where the fastener units of the op osed series are in alternat ng or staggere relation so as to provide a substantially so id column of metal lengthwise of the fastener and intermediate the edges of the stringers, in contradictinet on to fasteners wherein hooks carried by the units of one series extend across a gap mto openings in umts of the other series, and (2) where the pins and sockets of the units have su'brtantially cylindrical engaging surfaces.

[Oflic'lal Gazette March 15, 1982.]

DISCLAIMER 1,658,392.-G'eorge E. Prentice, Berlin, and Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn. SEPARABLE FASTENER. Patent dated February 7, 1928. Disclaimer filed Februaly 6, 1932, by the assignee, G. E. Prentice Manufacturing Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to the subject matter of claims 3, 8, and 9 of the aboveidentihed patent except (1) where the fastener units of the opposed series are in alternating or staggered relation so as to provide a substantially solid column of metal lengthwise of the fastener and intermediate the edges of the stringers, in contradistinction to fasteners wherein hooks carried by the units of one series extend across a gap into openings in units of the other series, and (2) where the pins and sockets of the units have sub tantially cylindrical engaging surfaces.

[Ofiicial Gazette March 15, 1932.] 

